Chapter Four---The Need for Friends and Handkerchiefs
Dedicated to Banba McCuill, who unconsciously encouraged me to keep
writing. ^_^
***
Bilbo invited the Gamgees over for tea, and Frodo explained how he had gotten lost and they had "rescued" him. Both children were quite embarrassed by the praise they received from Bilbo, whom they regarded with the utmost respect.
Bilbo himself couldn't get over how happy he was to see his dear nephew safe at home. He worried endlessly about the poor lad, alone in the woods without food or shelter, but he was proud to see Frodo had come out just fine, albeit incredibly hungry, Bilbo noted with a laugh to himself, as he watched the lad devour another biscuit.
In addition, he was happy to see how well Frodo got on with the Gamgees, especially Sam. He had hoped the two boys would like each other, and was delighted at their becoming fast friends.
When tea ended (it had run surprisingly long and night was falling already), and Goldie and Sam bid their new friend goodbye. Frodo sat down with Bilbo on his big velvet easy chair, with the fire crackling in the hearth, letting off a pleasant smell of smoke and illuminating the dark room. It was an unusually cold night for spring, and Bilbo didn't want his nephew to catch a chill.
"I was so lucky they found me," Frodo sighed, as Bilbo stroked his dark mop of curls. "I was so worried I would never see you again," he continued earnestly, looking up at his Uncle with heartbreakingly blue eyes.
"I know my dear boy. I am just glad you are back to Bag End, safe and sound, where you belong." Frodo smiled at Bilbo's words, then whispered quietly, "I was afraid you would be angry, Uncle. I ruined our day together, and I made you worry so...I was afraid you wouldn't want me to stay with you anymore. I was afraid you would think I was a nuisance. Frodo sunk deeper into the chair, chewing absently on an already stubby fingernail.
Bilbo was aghast at his nephew's words. "How could you ever think that, silme?" He said tenderly. "Why would such a thing ever cross your mind? Frodo, listen to me. You know I want nothing more than for you to be happy here. I also must confess, it's lonely at Bag End without you around, lad. You will never, ever be a nuisance to me. Do you hear?" Frodo nodded and looked relieved. He closed his eyes and leaned against Bilbo's chest, breathing in the scent of tealeaves and pipeweed, and suddenly felt comforted.
"I'm so glad to be here with you Uncle Bilbo," he said softly before drifting off.
"I know, my lad, I know," replied Bilbo, as he carried the tweenager off to his bed.
Watching him sleep, his thin, pale form illuminated by his bedside candle, Bilbo suddenly realized how appropriate the name "silme" was for him. "Sleep well, my little starlight," Bilbo whispered, as he blew out the candle, and all became dark.
*****************************************************
The next day, Frodo looked on his bedside table and realized he still had the small woven handkerchief Sam had given him. As he told Bilbo, the older Hobbit suggested that they simply go to town and buy the young Gamgee a whole new box. "And a few for my poor lad as well," Bilbo chuckled to himself as he watched his nephew sneeze, and blow his already red nose. Frodo agreed it was the least they could do, and the two Bagginses set out for Hobbiton together.
After walking for a bit, Bilbo and Frodo reached the bustling marketplace in the center of Hobbiton. The sky was sunny and cloudless, and the weather warm, a nice change form the unusual chill of the night before. Bilbo and Frodo noticed the market was much more crowded than usual, and tried to navigate their way carefully through the crowds. Frodo held Bilbo's hand as he snaked past a particularly large group of people, but the lad tripped, and fell to his knees on the dirt road, banging into an old Hobbit maid in a ridiculous flowered hat who stomped away in a huff. Dust clouds engulfed the tiny tween, and he coughed as Bilbo helped him up.
"Are you all right, my lad?" He asked with concern. Frodo nodded, and laughed.
"I suppose I just haven't grown into my feet yet!" He smiled, accepting his Uncle's hand as they walked into the fabric store.
Violet Proudfoot's Fabrics and Gifts sold all sorts of bits and bobs, form handkerchiefs and linens, to dresses and hairpins. The middle-aged Hobbit maid took great pride in her store, always keeping it clean and running it efficiently. She had a special spot in her heart for Bilbo Baggins' little nephew, and always saved him a treat. It was her personal opinion that he was much too thin, and need to build his strength, so she did what samll bit she could to help.
"Hullo there, Mr. Bilbo; Mr. Frodo," Violet called, as she arranged some bundles on a shelf.
"What brings you here today?" She continued as Bilbo closed the large rosewood door and walked over to her. Frodo looked around the store and admired the lovely paintings on the deep green walls that Violet had done herself.
"We're looking for two boxes of pocket-handkerchiefs, nice ones," he replied. Frodo stood shyly off to the side, by himself, as Violet and Bilbo laughed and talked like old friends. Violet noticed him and gave him and warm smile and wave, and he grinned back.
"Ah, here we go. Will these do?" She lifted two small wood boxes off the shelf. Inside of each were about a dozen silken handkerchiefs with dark red trim.
"Those will do nicely, thank you Violet;" Bilbo nodded and got out his money. "I'm assuming some of these are for your nephew?" She questioned, as Frodo answered her with a loud sneeze, nearly knocking over the vase of flowers that had caused it.
"Yes," Bilbo sighed, shaking his head. "He has terrible allergies. The poor thing can't be around a flower for half a minute before he sneezes himself silly." Violet clucked her tongue, and Frodo looked blushed, sniffling. "Not natural for a Hobbit at all," she thought to herself, as she glanced at the pale little lad.
"I'll tell you what," she said. "Your purchases are on me. Goodness knows the lad will need them." Violet smiled. "And no protests," she held up her hand, and Bilbo resigned. "All right," he sighed. "Thank you very much, my dear." Violet playfully shooed away his praise, and the Bagginses bid their friend farewell, but not before, to Frodo's delight, she slipped him a cinnamon scone form her basket under the counter.
*************************************************
Later that day, when Frodo and Bilbo had finished their shopping, (They had made other stops at the bakery, the tailor, and had stopped for lunch as well as buying their gift for Sam.) they walked slowly home together for supper. The sun was quite low in the clear sky, casting a gauzy orange glow on the tiny Hobbits under its bright gaze. Frodo quietly slipped his hand into his Uncle's and let out a tiny yawn.
"Are you tired, lad?" Bilbo asked. Frodo shook his head.
"Only a bit, Uncle. May I stay up later and read with you?" Frodo asked, his large eyes hopeful. Bilbo chuckled, and mussed Frodo's curls playfully, causing the lad to giggle.
"I don't see why not," he replied. "As long as you get a good night's sleep." Frodo nodded, and Bilbo smiled at him.
"I was thinking we could visit could visit the Gamgees tomorrow," Bilbo continued, "to give Sam his present." He noticed Frodo's face light up at the mention of seeing his new friend, and was glad the boy finally had someone his own age to play with.
"That sounds like a splendid idea, Uncle," Frodo said, yawing again and hoping Bilbo wouldn't notice. "And...I'm glad we got to spend the day together...Even if we couldn't go on our hike," the lad continued shyly. Bilbo just squeezed Frodo's hand in response, as the two Bagginses walked along the road back to Bag End once more, as the sun set on the city of Hobbiton for another day.
Dedicated to Banba McCuill, who unconsciously encouraged me to keep
writing. ^_^
***
Bilbo invited the Gamgees over for tea, and Frodo explained how he had gotten lost and they had "rescued" him. Both children were quite embarrassed by the praise they received from Bilbo, whom they regarded with the utmost respect.
Bilbo himself couldn't get over how happy he was to see his dear nephew safe at home. He worried endlessly about the poor lad, alone in the woods without food or shelter, but he was proud to see Frodo had come out just fine, albeit incredibly hungry, Bilbo noted with a laugh to himself, as he watched the lad devour another biscuit.
In addition, he was happy to see how well Frodo got on with the Gamgees, especially Sam. He had hoped the two boys would like each other, and was delighted at their becoming fast friends.
When tea ended (it had run surprisingly long and night was falling already), and Goldie and Sam bid their new friend goodbye. Frodo sat down with Bilbo on his big velvet easy chair, with the fire crackling in the hearth, letting off a pleasant smell of smoke and illuminating the dark room. It was an unusually cold night for spring, and Bilbo didn't want his nephew to catch a chill.
"I was so lucky they found me," Frodo sighed, as Bilbo stroked his dark mop of curls. "I was so worried I would never see you again," he continued earnestly, looking up at his Uncle with heartbreakingly blue eyes.
"I know my dear boy. I am just glad you are back to Bag End, safe and sound, where you belong." Frodo smiled at Bilbo's words, then whispered quietly, "I was afraid you would be angry, Uncle. I ruined our day together, and I made you worry so...I was afraid you wouldn't want me to stay with you anymore. I was afraid you would think I was a nuisance. Frodo sunk deeper into the chair, chewing absently on an already stubby fingernail.
Bilbo was aghast at his nephew's words. "How could you ever think that, silme?" He said tenderly. "Why would such a thing ever cross your mind? Frodo, listen to me. You know I want nothing more than for you to be happy here. I also must confess, it's lonely at Bag End without you around, lad. You will never, ever be a nuisance to me. Do you hear?" Frodo nodded and looked relieved. He closed his eyes and leaned against Bilbo's chest, breathing in the scent of tealeaves and pipeweed, and suddenly felt comforted.
"I'm so glad to be here with you Uncle Bilbo," he said softly before drifting off.
"I know, my lad, I know," replied Bilbo, as he carried the tweenager off to his bed.
Watching him sleep, his thin, pale form illuminated by his bedside candle, Bilbo suddenly realized how appropriate the name "silme" was for him. "Sleep well, my little starlight," Bilbo whispered, as he blew out the candle, and all became dark.
*****************************************************
The next day, Frodo looked on his bedside table and realized he still had the small woven handkerchief Sam had given him. As he told Bilbo, the older Hobbit suggested that they simply go to town and buy the young Gamgee a whole new box. "And a few for my poor lad as well," Bilbo chuckled to himself as he watched his nephew sneeze, and blow his already red nose. Frodo agreed it was the least they could do, and the two Bagginses set out for Hobbiton together.
After walking for a bit, Bilbo and Frodo reached the bustling marketplace in the center of Hobbiton. The sky was sunny and cloudless, and the weather warm, a nice change form the unusual chill of the night before. Bilbo and Frodo noticed the market was much more crowded than usual, and tried to navigate their way carefully through the crowds. Frodo held Bilbo's hand as he snaked past a particularly large group of people, but the lad tripped, and fell to his knees on the dirt road, banging into an old Hobbit maid in a ridiculous flowered hat who stomped away in a huff. Dust clouds engulfed the tiny tween, and he coughed as Bilbo helped him up.
"Are you all right, my lad?" He asked with concern. Frodo nodded, and laughed.
"I suppose I just haven't grown into my feet yet!" He smiled, accepting his Uncle's hand as they walked into the fabric store.
Violet Proudfoot's Fabrics and Gifts sold all sorts of bits and bobs, form handkerchiefs and linens, to dresses and hairpins. The middle-aged Hobbit maid took great pride in her store, always keeping it clean and running it efficiently. She had a special spot in her heart for Bilbo Baggins' little nephew, and always saved him a treat. It was her personal opinion that he was much too thin, and need to build his strength, so she did what samll bit she could to help.
"Hullo there, Mr. Bilbo; Mr. Frodo," Violet called, as she arranged some bundles on a shelf.
"What brings you here today?" She continued as Bilbo closed the large rosewood door and walked over to her. Frodo looked around the store and admired the lovely paintings on the deep green walls that Violet had done herself.
"We're looking for two boxes of pocket-handkerchiefs, nice ones," he replied. Frodo stood shyly off to the side, by himself, as Violet and Bilbo laughed and talked like old friends. Violet noticed him and gave him and warm smile and wave, and he grinned back.
"Ah, here we go. Will these do?" She lifted two small wood boxes off the shelf. Inside of each were about a dozen silken handkerchiefs with dark red trim.
"Those will do nicely, thank you Violet;" Bilbo nodded and got out his money. "I'm assuming some of these are for your nephew?" She questioned, as Frodo answered her with a loud sneeze, nearly knocking over the vase of flowers that had caused it.
"Yes," Bilbo sighed, shaking his head. "He has terrible allergies. The poor thing can't be around a flower for half a minute before he sneezes himself silly." Violet clucked her tongue, and Frodo looked blushed, sniffling. "Not natural for a Hobbit at all," she thought to herself, as she glanced at the pale little lad.
"I'll tell you what," she said. "Your purchases are on me. Goodness knows the lad will need them." Violet smiled. "And no protests," she held up her hand, and Bilbo resigned. "All right," he sighed. "Thank you very much, my dear." Violet playfully shooed away his praise, and the Bagginses bid their friend farewell, but not before, to Frodo's delight, she slipped him a cinnamon scone form her basket under the counter.
*************************************************
Later that day, when Frodo and Bilbo had finished their shopping, (They had made other stops at the bakery, the tailor, and had stopped for lunch as well as buying their gift for Sam.) they walked slowly home together for supper. The sun was quite low in the clear sky, casting a gauzy orange glow on the tiny Hobbits under its bright gaze. Frodo quietly slipped his hand into his Uncle's and let out a tiny yawn.
"Are you tired, lad?" Bilbo asked. Frodo shook his head.
"Only a bit, Uncle. May I stay up later and read with you?" Frodo asked, his large eyes hopeful. Bilbo chuckled, and mussed Frodo's curls playfully, causing the lad to giggle.
"I don't see why not," he replied. "As long as you get a good night's sleep." Frodo nodded, and Bilbo smiled at him.
"I was thinking we could visit could visit the Gamgees tomorrow," Bilbo continued, "to give Sam his present." He noticed Frodo's face light up at the mention of seeing his new friend, and was glad the boy finally had someone his own age to play with.
"That sounds like a splendid idea, Uncle," Frodo said, yawing again and hoping Bilbo wouldn't notice. "And...I'm glad we got to spend the day together...Even if we couldn't go on our hike," the lad continued shyly. Bilbo just squeezed Frodo's hand in response, as the two Bagginses walked along the road back to Bag End once more, as the sun set on the city of Hobbiton for another day.